Microsoft to Drop 'Metro' Name from Windows 8

Over the past week, news began to spread of Microsoft being forced to drop the name of the new tile-based, minimalist design environment it's employed for Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8. Turns out it was all true. Microsoft today confirmed that it will discontinue the use of the "Metro" name going forward.

News first broke when The Verge got a hold of internal documents that said due to "discussions with an important European partner," Microsoft was planning to stop using the "Metro" name. Shortly thereafter it sent an email to app developers telling them to also cease using the name.

"We have used Metro style as a code name during the product development cycle across many of our product lines," said a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement. "As we get closer to launch and transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog we will use our commercial names."